Home remedies for varicose veins

Author: Melissa Gribble
Date Posted:14 February 2018

Varicose veins occur when a person's veins become swollen and enlarged. In some people, they can cause pain and discomfort. A range of home treatments may help to reduce the appearance and pain of varicose veins.

Around 20 percent of adults will experience varicose veins at some point. There are several medical treatments for this condition, though a person may also wish to try natural home remedies to relieve their symptoms.

In this article, we look at 10 natural ways to treat varicose veins at home.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins have a dark blue or purple appearance and may bulge out from underneath the skin.

Varicose veins can develop when small valves in the veins become weak. These valves usually stop blood flowing backward through the veins, and when they are damaged blood can pool in the veins. This causes twisted and swollen veins that also become very visible.

Varicose veins can be noticeable because of their dark blue or purple appearance, they also often bulge out from underneath the skin.

Other symptoms of varicose veins include:

burning or throbbing sensation in the legs

uncomfortable legs that feel heavy or achy

muscle cramps that can be more noticeable at night

swelling of the feet and ankles

dry or itchy skin that appears thinner over the varicose vein

Ten home treatments for varicose veins

If a person has varicose veins, they can try the following home remedies to help manage the condition and improve symptoms:

1. Exercise

Regular exercise encourages better blood circulation in the legs, which helps to push along the blood that has collected in the veins. Exercise also helps to lower a person's blood pressure, which is another contributing factor to varicose veins.

Low-impact exercises help to get the calf muscles working without excessive strain. Effective, low-impact exercises include:

A review study from 2006 suggests that horse chestnut essential oil, Aesculus hippocastanum L., may help to reduce leg pain, heaviness, and itching in people with chronic venous insufficiency, which is a major cause of varicose veins.

A review study from 2010 reports that sea pine extract, Pinus maritima, and Butcher's broom extract, Ruscus aculeatus, may both reduce leg swelling, or edema, that is often associated with varicose veins.

Essential oils should be diluted in carrier oils before being applied topically or used in a diffuser for aromatherapy.

4. Dietary changes

Potassium-high foods, such as almonds and pistachio nuts, can help varicose veins by reducing water retention in the body.

Salty or sodium-rich foods can cause the body to retain water, so cutting down on salty food can minimize water retention. Foods high in potassium can help to reduce water retention.

Foods that are high in potassium include:

almonds and pistachio nuts

lentils and white beans

potatoes

leafy vegetables

some fish, such as salmon and tuna

Foods with fiber help to keep the bowels moving and prevent constipation. This may be important, as straining can aggravate damaged valves or make them worse.

Foods that are high in fiber include:

nuts, seeds, and legumes

oats, wheat, and flaxseed

whole-grain foods

People who are overweight are more likely to experience varicose veins, therefore, shedding any excess pounds can reduce the pressure on the veins and alleviate swelling and discomfort.

5. Eat more flavonoids

Adding foods that contain flavonoids may also help a person to shrink their varicose veins.

Flavonoids improve blood circulation, which will keep the blood flowing, and make it less likely to pool in the veins. They also help to reduce blood pressure in the arteries and can relax blood vessels, all of which can reduce varicose veins.

According to the National Institute of Health, taking grape seed extract, Vitis vinifera, orally may help to reduce swelling in the lower legs and other symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, though there is currently limited evidence for its effectiveness.

A person prescribed with blood-thinning medication should avoid taking grape seed extract, as a dietary supplement, as it can interact with the medication and increase the risk of bleeding.

Gotu Kola is A slender, creeping herb native to Sri Lanka and South Africa. It’s traditionally known as a blood purifier. More recently it has been studied for assisting with the management of Varicose veins.

7. Choose non-restrictive clothing

Wearing tight-fitting clothes can restrict blood flow. A person may find that their circulation is improved by wearing loose-fitting clothes that do not restrict the blood supply to the lower body.

Wearing flat shoes instead of high heels may also help with varicose veins in the legs.

8. Keep the legs elevated

Keeping the legs elevated, ideally at the same height as the heart or above it will help to improve circulation. This reduces the pressure in the leg veins and gravity will help the blood to flow smoothly back to the heart.

A person should aim to keep their legs elevated if they are going to be sitting down for long periods of time, such as during work or rest.

9. Massage

Gently massaging the affected areas can help to keep the blood moving through the veins. A person can use gentle massage oils or moisturizer for optimal effects.

It is crucial to avoid pressing directly onto the veins, however, as this may damage fragile tissues.

10. Keep moving

Avoid sitting for long periods of time. If a person has to sit for long periods of time for work, they should aim to get up and move around or change position frequently to keep the blood flowing smoothly.

Avoid sitting with crossed legs, as this can further restrict blood flow to the legs and feet, which may add to circulation problems.

About Us

Information

Stay In Touch

Terms & Conditions

Welcome to our website. If you continue to browse and use this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern Pharma Botanica’s relationship with you in relation to this website. If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use our website.

The term ‘Pharma Botanica’ or ‘us’ or ‘we’ refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is 5/81 Darley Street, MONA VALE, NSW, 2103, AU. Our ABN is . The term ‘you’ refers to the user or viewer of our website.

The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use:

The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.

Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.

This website contains material which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions.

All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website.

Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence.

From time to time, this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).

Your use of this website and any dispute arising out of such use of the website is subject to the laws of Australia.

Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY

Pharma Botanica Pty Ltd (ABN 54 060 754 047) ("Pharma Botanica", "us" or "we") owns and operates the website, www.pharmabotanica.com.au (the Website). We are dedicated to ensuring that we comply with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (the APPs). This Privacy Policy explains how we manage the personal information that is collected, used, disclosed and stored about you.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, you should contact Pharma Botanica at sales@pharmabotanica.com.au

ACCEPTANCE
By visiting or using our Website and/or purchasing products via the Website or by otherwise providing your personal information to us, you confirm your acceptance of the terms of this Privacy Policy and your consent to the handling of your personal information as set out in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Website or otherwise provide us with your personal information.

WHAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION?
"Personal information" means information or an opinion that is capable of reasonably identifying an individual, whether that information or opinion is true or not and whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.

TYPES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED
The types of personal information we may collect from you includes (but is not limited to): your name, postal address, email address, telephone or mobile phone number(s), information such as credit or debit card information, your opinions on our products and details of, for example, your skin routine if you use our online tool.

MANNER OF COLLECTION
We may collect personal information from you in variety of ways, including when you:
- sign-up for an account on our Website or when you manage/change your account information;
- place orders for and/or purchase our products;
- use our online tool to receive skincare recommendations;
- visit the Website, Facebook page and other social media webpages that we manage and provide comments;
- provide feedback on our products or customer service by, for example, email, phone or via our Website or social media pages;
- contact us by phone, email, post or via our Website enquiry forms;
apply for employment with us;
- subscribe to receive our newsletters or other promotional materials; and
sign-up to participate in surveys, competitions or other promotional activities.
- Please note that our promotions, competitions and surveys are usually subject to their own terms and conditions, which may also address additional privacy matters.

We may also collect certain non-personal information when you visit or use our Website, for example, through the use of cookies (see below), or online analytic tools such as Google Analytics or Facebook Pixels, to record or track your IP address and details of your operating system or internet browser etc. This information is collected in aggregate and you cannot be individually identified using this tracking information.
We may also collect your personal information from third parties. This may include (but is not limited to):
- law enforcement agencies and other government entities;
- payment service providers;
- someone duly authorised
to act on your behalf;
- market research service providers; and
- your referees and/or previous employers, where you have applied for employment with us.

Your personal information will only be collected from third parties if it unreasonable or impractical to collect that personal information from you directly. If and when we do collect personal information from third parties, we will take reasonable steps in the circumstances to inform you of this collection and obtain your consent.

USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
Pharma Botanica may use your personal information for a number of purposes, including the following:
- registering, setting up and managing customer accounts;
- processing transactions and fulfilling orders for products;
- responding to your questions, comments and requests and to otherwise provide customer services;
- to administer promotions, surveys and competitions;
- carrying out market research and product analysis and development;
- marketing our products and services and providing you with information and updates, such as newsletters or offers of promotional events or opportunities (such as competitions or surveys) that you may be interested in;
- the prevention of fraud and/or identifying and investigating any suspicious use of our Website;
- assessing and processing employment applications and conducting due diligence as part of pre-employment screening;
- for our internal business and management processes, for example, accounting or auditing purposes;
- for any other purpose to allow us to comply with our obligations under law
; and
- for any other purposes that would reasonably be expected by you.

THIRD PARTIES
Pharma Botanica may use third parties to provide essential services on our Website or for our business processes. We may share your details as necessary for the third party to provide that service. These third parties may include:
- third party service providers, dealers, agents and
contractors who assist us in managing our business or operating our Website, such as business support services, payment processors, webhosting
service providers, cloud storage providers, mailing houses and delivery service providers etc. For example, our Website is operated by Neto. As a result, when you use our Website, Neto may collect your name, email address, shipping and billing address, payment details, phone number, IP address and device data. Neto requires this information so that it can provide us with its website services;
- sponsors or promoters of any competition that we conduct;
- our professional advisors including lawyers, accountants, tax advisors and auditors;
- anyone to whom our assets or business (or any part of them) may be transferred;
- law enforcement bodies to assist in their functions, courts of law or as otherwise required or authorised by law; and
- regulatory or government bodies for the purposes of resolving customer complaints or investigations.

Our Website uses cookies. Cookies collect information that includes the server your computer or device is logged onto, your browser type and how you gained entry to our Website. Therefore, when you visit our Website anonymously, details are recorded about your visit, such as time and date, pages accessed and time spent on the Website. This information is used in an anonymous form for statistical purposes and, as such, cannot be used to identify you individually. A cookie cannot retrieve any other information from your hard drive, pass on computer viruses or capture your email address or any other personally identifiable information.

Check the "Help" menu of your browser for more information on how to change your cookie preferences. You may disable cookies or set your browser to alert you when cookies are being sent. If you do disable cookies, we may be unable to optimise your visit to our Website and you may experience some errors. Refer to your browser instructions or help screens to learn about these functions.

STORAGE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
The security of your personal information is important to us. We take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to maintain the integrity and store securely your personal information to protect it from interference, misuse and loss and from unauthorised use, access, modification or disclosure.

When you enter information, such as credit card numbers, on our Website, we encrypt that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL). We never permanently store complete credit card details.

We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it.
Pharma Botanica takes reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your personal information if it is no longer needed for any purpose under this Privacy Policy, except in circumstances where Pharma Botanica is required or authorised to retain this personal information (including as a result of the operation of tax, financial services or other applicable law).
If you have any questions about security on our Website, you can email us at sales@pharmabotanica.com.au

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
Pharma Botanica sends by email Newsletters to those who subscribe to the service. Our Newsletters contain the latest product information, news and promotional offers. If you would like to unsubscribe, please email sales@pharmabotanica.com.au or use the unsubscribe link in any electronic Newsletter we send to you.

ACCESS AND CORRECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
You are entitled to access and correct the personal information we hold about you and to have any inaccuracies in the information corrected. However, in order to maintain the accuracy of your personal information, we rely on the quality of the personal information you provide to us.

If your personal information changes, or if you no longer desire our products or services, you may correct, update or delete your personal information by logging into your account or you deactivate your account by emailing us at or by contacting us using the Contact Details below.

If you would like to access any of the personal information we hold about you, you may do so by sending us an email to sales@pharmabotanica.com.au or by contacting us using the Contact Details below and informing us that you wish to access your personal information.

There are some circumstances specified by law where we may refuse your request for access to your personal information. However, if one of these circumstances applies, we will provide you with a written explanation of the reasons for refusal, unless it would be unreasonable to provide that notice.
Once we receive your request for access, we will endeavour to respond to your request within a reasonable period after the request is made.

COMPLAINTS
If you have any concerns or a complaint about a breach of your privacy or the way we have handled your personal information, please email sales@pharmabotanica.com.au or contact us using the Contact Details below and inform us of the nature of your complaint.
We will then investigate your complaint and endeavour to provide you with our response within a reasonable time. If, after receiving our response you still consider that your privacy complaint remains unresolved, you may then, for example, refer your concern to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au..

LEGAL
We reserve the right to disclose your personal information as required by law and when we believe that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights and/or comply with a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process served on Pharma Botanica.

LINKS
Our Website may contain links to websites operated and maintained by third parties over which we have absolutely no control. These third party websites are not subject to this Privacy Policy or our privacy standards and procedures. Any information you provide to third party websites will be governed by the terms of the websites' privacy policies. We have no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the content, actions or policies of third party websites. The inclusion of third party links on our Website in no way constitutes an endorsement of such websites' content, actions or policies.

CHANGES TO PRIVACY POLICY
Pharma Botanica reserves the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy from time to time, so please review it frequently. If we make material changes to our Privacy Policy, we will notify you here, by email, or by means of a notice on our homepage.